“Thief!” hissed the woman, under her breath. “How dare you? Where did you come from?”
She had not seen Isabel since her encounter with Brownie, therefore did not know until that moment of her proximity.
She had come out of her own room just as Miss Douglas entered Isabel’s, and, seeing the door open, glanced in as Brownie had done.
She recognized Miss Douglas in an instant, and comprehended at once her object there.
She glided in noiselessly, hoping to come upon her unawares, and wrest the casket from her without much trouble, but the girl turned just in season to confront her.
Brownie herself grew pale at this unexpected encounter, but, clutching her recovered property firmly in her hands, she held herself proudly at bay.
“You are the thief, madam—you and your daughter,” she said, haughtily.
“Liar! Put down that box!”
“I shall not, madam!”
“Then I will ring and have you arrested. I know not how you happen to be here; I devoutly hoped you would never cross our path again; but fate seems to decree that you turn up as a marplot wherever we go. Will you put that box down, or shall I ring?” and the angry woman grasped the bell-pull vigorously.